Florida Department of CorrectionsJulie L. Jones, Secretary

Program Types

The Florida Department of Corrections has developed Correctional Substance Abuse Programs at Institutional and Community-Based sites throughout the state. These programs serve offenders with substance involvement, abuse, dependence, and other related problems, including employment issues. The substance abuse programs' principle objectives are to identify substance abusers, assess the severity of their drug problems, and provide the appropriate substance abuse program services. The Department of Children and Families in accordance with Chapter 397, Florida Statutes and Chapter 65D-30, Florida Administrative Code licenses all substance abuse programs.

Offenders screened as being in need of services are either referred to a program or placed on a waiting list pending availability of needed programming. The Bureau of Substance Abuse Program Services is responsible for the coordination and delivery of these services listed below for offenders under community supervision.

Nonsecure Substance Abuse Treatment Programs are six (6) month community-based substance abuse therapeutic communities with two components. The Intensive Treatment Component (ITC) lasts two (2) months. During the ITC the offender only participates in counseling and therapeutic and educational activities at the residential facility. The Employment/Re-Entry component (ERC) lasts four (4) months with a primary focus on successful re-entry into the community. During the ERC gaining and maintaining employment is incorporated into the offenders treatment plan. The offender resides in the treatment facility while maintaining gainful employment in the community. In this component the offender participates in a minimum of six hours of counseling per week. The residential program is staffed by paid awake staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Long-term Residential (Secure) Substance Abuse Treatment Programs are community-based, full service, long-term substance abuse therapeutic communities (secure indicates a long-term program, not a program in a locked facility) with two components. The Intensive Treatment Component (ITC) lasts up to twelve (12) months. During the ITC the offender only participates in counseling and therapeutic and educational activities at the residential facility. The Employment/Re-Entry component (ERC) lasts six (6) months with a primary focus on successful re-entry into the community. During the ERC gaining and maintaining employment is incorporated into the offenders treatment plan. The offender resides in the treatment facility while maintaining gainful employment in the community. In this component the offender participates in a minimum of six hours of counseling per week. The residential program is staffed by paid awake staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Probation and Restitution Centers (PRC's) are community-based residential programs for selected offenders under Department supervision and recently released inmates. The program consists of a four (4) to six (6) month Residential Program Phase (Phase I) followed by a three (3) to six (6) month extended Support and Follow-up Services Phase (Phase II) during which participants reside within the community. The PRC offers a sentencing alternative to the courts while providing a resource for participants who experience difficulty meeting their court-imposed financial obligations to victims, the Courts, and the Department. Additionally, PRC's provide transitional assistance to newly released inmates during their re-entry into the community. The program provides a continuum of services that offer at a minimum employability, job placement and budgeting skills development and assistance; vocational and educational training through linkages to community-based employers and providers; substance abuse services; transitional housing; support services to facilitate successful participation in the community; and, other such services to promote personal responsibility, self-improvement and public safety.

Outpatient Treatment Programs provide therapeutic activities and interventions for offenders to assist them in their recovery from substance abuse while they maintain residence and employment in the community. The focus of the programs is on treatment and the provision of ancillary services. Outpatient services are provided to offenders on a variety of intensity levels statewide (i.e., education classes, outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and day or night treatment).

County Jail Incarceration Programs house incarcerated probationers ordered by the court into the County Jail Incarceration Program (JIP). The Probationer must be an offender who is convicted of a felony listed in categories five (5) through nine (9) of the sentencing guidelines, except for a felony that involved the use, attempted use, or threat of physical force or violence. The offender must also be sentenced to the county jail as a condition of felony probation and the presumptive sentence according to sentencing guidelines would have equaled or exceeded one (1) year and one (1) day in the Department of Corrections.

Post Prison Transitional Housing Programs (PRTH) is a program designed to assist offenders by providing drug and substance abuse prevention services, transitional housing, and other such support services. These services assist them in making successful re-entry into the community and help them to create and maintain a drug-free, independent, law-abiding lifestyle. The program provides services to those offenders who need a structured environment to promote their personal recovery from substance abuse. Housing, food (two (2) meals a day), electricity, local phone service, job placement assistance, and other transition services are provided as needed. The PRTH program targets offenders who have completed a Department in-prison or community-based drug treatment program. The services provided are secular and do not include a faith-based element.